Introduction to Transition Counseling

Extending the Relationship with Clients to Build Success Using Habit Coaching During a Student's First Year of College

I’ve worked with a lot of students in my time as a college planner. Often I lose touch with the student after their decision has been made and their deposit sent in. I check in occasionally but I can tell after a few nice conversations that they no longer feel the need to maintain our relationship. There are exceptions, however, and they have really left an impression on me. Occasionally I am asked to continue working with a student during their transition. This has become one of the most rewarding parts of the work, and one I decided to explore further.

I recently completed a course entitled Advanced Habit Coaching for Counselors. I already have experience teaching time management and study skills from my time as an adjunct professor teaching freshman seminars. But that was over ten years ago and I wasn’t sure if I was still current. I wanted new techniques geared to the ultra-digital and focus-challenged college freshman. Habit Coaching seemed like the perfect place to start. Habit Coaches, I learned, focus on small, chat-based checkins on a regular basis to help create consistency. This is a change from my typical counseling session. Success here will require developing new, daily actions which build momentum and increase long-term success. These Keystone Habits become the foundation for lasting change. It’s the bridge from intention to consistency. Habit Stacking is another term I recently came across. This is when we attach the new habit to already existing daily routines, making them easier to adopt and maintain.

Habit Coaching is not meant only for students. It was recommended in an email by Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, whom I follow for college planning tips. I signed up for the course and I decided right away there was an opportunity to incorporate this technique it into my current practice. As a college planner with a mental health background I feel qualified to work with students on many levels. Learning about habit science and adding some new tools in my tool belt seemed like a great idea. There are too many teens unable to focus and motivate. Sending them off to college with the burden of acclimating to this new terrain is scary. Alone and unprepared, students may like the idea of their college counselors continuing to be there for them. Transition Counseling is my answer to this epidemic. Parents have reacted positively, some even seem relieved.

I considered giving my students each a planner as a gift for when they head off to college. I quickly learned that few students will open it. I decided instead, as I began my work recently with Jamie, to create a shared calendar so we can each add and see upcoming assignments and appointments. After going through the syllabus for each course and entering important dates and reminders, we made a plan for how to divide the time around classes. We discussed entering in time to visit professors during office hours as well as time set aside for physical and social activities. We meet virtually once per week for about 20-30 minutes and then text and chat as needed in between.

Depending on the habits you are trying to implement, Transition Counseling can look different for each student. The basic rules are to identify goals, break them down into small, doable actions, enforce daily accountability, and celebrate consistent effort rather than flawless execution. View the student as a whole person by not simply focusing on academics. Incorporate conversations about external structures, sleep consistency and energy levels, exercise and nutrition, and socializing into your framework.